Needs Assessment for Supports to Promote Pediatric Clinical Research Using an Online Survey of the Japanese Children’s Hospitals Association

INTRODUCTION: Infrastructure and the capacity to conduct clinical research in pediatrics have not been fully established in Japan. To elucidate the physicians’ perspectives on clinical research, level of experience, existing barriers, and requests for support, we conducted a survey at 34 children’s hospitals in Japan. METHODS: In January 2016, an online survey with 13 questions was sent to approximately 2000 physicians working in 34 pediatric hospitals belonging to the Japanese Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions. RESULTS: Of the 360 respondents, 318 (88.3%) had presentations at academic conferences, and 261 (72.5%) had publications in academic journals, in the previous year. The most common study designs of clinical research conducted were case reports and case series. The most requested supports were for statistical analysis, followed by study design, grant application, and English-language editing. Younger physicians were more likely to prefer educational lectures (p < 0.001), whereas experienced physicians were more likely to request support for conducting statistical analysis (p = 0.002). Whereas physicians who had ever led a clinical trial requested support for the development of study protocol (p = .013), those without this experience preferred support for literature review (p = .002) and consultation services for study design (p = .027). CONCLUSIONS: The requests for supports were different, depending on the physicians’ years after graduation and experience level in clinical research. In order to enhance clinical research in pediatrics, it is essential to provide appropriate types and levels of educational and support programs.